New Korea Missile "Can Hit US"

There were indications that North Korea planned to exhibit the missile – as well as models from the country’s existing system – during National Day festivities on Tuesday but did not do so, the official said.

The official said the development is significant because it demonstrates co-operation from Russian entities or scientists.

The Bush administration has raised the issue with Russian government officials, who indicated surprise and disapproval of the activity, the official said.

According to the official, the missile is based on Russia’s SSN6, a Soviet-era submarine-launched ballistic missile.

Two weeks ago, officials from North Korea and the US, along with China, South Korea Japan and Russia, met in Beijing to discuss ways of surmounting the impasse over the North’s nuclear weapons system.